Drishti IAS Penalised With Rs 5 Lakh Fine For Misleading UPSC Result Advertisement

CCPA Imposes ₹5 Lakh Penalty On Drishti IAS For Misleading UPSC Result Advertisement

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹5 lakh on Drishti IAS (VDK Eduventures Pvt. Ltd.) for publishing misleading advertisements about the results of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022.

In its advertisement, Drishti IAS prominently claimed “216+ selections in UPSC CSE 2022” along with names and photographs of successful candidates. However, CCPA found the claim misleading as it concealed crucial details about the type and duration of courses undertaken by these candidates.

The investigation revealed that of the 216 candidates cited, 162 (around 75%) had only attended the Institute's free *Interview Guidance Programme (IGP)* after independently clearing the Preliminary and Mains stages. Only 54 students were enrolled in IGP along with other paid courses. CCPA observed that this concealment misled aspirants and parents into believing Drishti IAS was responsible for their success at all stages of the exam, which qualifies as a misleading advertisement under Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Repeat Violation

CCPA also noted that this was the second such instance involving Drishti IAS. In September 2024, the Authority had imposed a penalty of ₹3 lakh for a similar claim of “150+ selections in UPSC CSE 2021.” In that case, out of 161 candidates projected as selections, 148 were only enrolled in IGP, while the rest were spread across Mains mentorship, GS Foundation, and optional programs. Despite being penalized and cautioned, the institute repeated the practice for 2022 results by raising its claim to “216+ selections,” reflecting non-compliance and disregard for consumer protection norms.

Wider Crackdown On Coaching Institutes

CCPA emphasized that concealment of such critical information deprives students and parents of their right to make informed choices under Section 2(9) of the Act, while creating false expectations and unfairly influencing decisions.

So far, the Authority has issued 54 notices to various coaching institutes for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices. Penalties amounting to over ₹90.6 lakh have been imposed on 26 institutes, along with directions to discontinue such misleading claims. CCPA noted that a common feature among these advertisements was the omission of key details regarding the courses actually opted by successful candidates.

The Authority reiterated that coaching institutes must ensure truthful and transparent disclosure in all advertisements, so that students can take fair and informed academic decisions.

Source : PIB